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Clap Switch Circuit
Clap Switch Circuit
Clap Switch Circuit
An electronic device that can control light appliances by users clap action is
a clap switch. It was invented by R Carlile, Stevens, and E Dale Reamer on
20th February 1996. The main advantage of this technology is that it is
mainly helpful for a mobility-impaired person. The condenser mic is one of
the main components in the circuit that tracks the input clap sound based on
the pitch of clap and transduces this sound energy into some electric pulses.
These electric pulses are the desired input to the clap switch circuit. This
article gives an overview of the clap switch.
What is Clap Switch?
Definition: A clap switch is an electronic circuit, which controls electrical
appliances like a bulb, tube lights, etc with user clapping action. It is mainly
useful for a person who cannot move his legs. The clap switch circuit can be
designed in two ways using 555 IC and without using a 555IC.
Required Components
The main components of the circuit are
555 IC – IC 1
CD 4017 IC – IC2
Relay -r1: A relay is a switching device, which is used to switch the
circuit on when required and turn off whenever required.
Resistors – 100 Ω (R1), 560 Ω (R2), 4.6 KΩ (R3), 18 KΩ *3 (R4), 33
KΩ (R5): A resistor is an electronic component which opposes the flow of
current or prevents excess leakage of current in the circuit when required.
Capacitors – 0.1 µF * 2 (C1), 4.7 µF(C2): A capacitor is a passive
component that stores a small amount of charge.
Microphone – M1: A microphone is similar to an amplifier.
BC 547 – T2
Diode 1N4004 -d1: A diode is an electronic component that acts
similarly to a regulator or a switch.
Light Emitting Diode – d2: An LED is used to radiate light when it is
power supplied
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CD 4017
It is a CMOS divider or a counter IC. On receiving an external clock signal it
turns ON (say all together 10 lights) all the lights in a sequential manner. It
consists of input pins 3 in number and output pins 10 in number and a GND
– ground pin as shown below
Input Pins
The followings are the input pins used in 4017 decad counter IC.
Reset (P 15): This pin helps to reset the position back to zero. Suppose
if you want the counter to count till 3, after the 3rd signal the reset pin goes
back to zero.
Clock pin ( P 14): It is an input clock signal pin that goes high when the
circuit is in the working stage.
Clock Inhibit Pin (Pin 13): This pin controls the counter pin by turning it
ON and OFF. When Pin13 is set high it means counter if turned off, and
when pin13 is set low it means the counter is turned on.
Output Pins
The followings are the output pins used in 4017 decad counter ic
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Clap Switch Working
Assume a human standing closer to the mic and clapping. This mic takes the
sound energy and converts it into an electrical signal and gives this input to
the clap switch circuit at transistor T2. This signal in return triggers IC1 ( 555
Timer) pin2. We can theoretically calculate the output clock signal status
using the following formula
T = 1.1 * R 5* C 4
The output which is a clock signal from IC1 (pin3) is given as input to CD
4017 IC (pin 14). Now CD 4017 IC starts counting from “0” until pin 14 goes
high. On receiving input signal on the first clap, Q1 gets activated, LED 1
(d1) starts glowing. The switch circuit is controlled by a relay and the output
is obtained from pin2. Similarly, on receiving another clap, pin4 gets
activated and LED2(d2) if connected glows and LED1 stops glowing,
likewise, this process continues.
Advantages
The following are the advantages of clap switch
Air conditions
Tv
Motor, etc.
FAQs
1). Who invented the clap switch?
R Carlile, Stevens, and E Dale Reamer invented a clap switch on 20th Feb
1996.
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2). What is a clap off and clap on?
It is a concept which controls (turns on or off) the light or electronic
appliances by clapping action.
Fans
Light.
4). Why is it called a 555 timer?
It is similar to oscillator like monostable, which has only one stable state. It
gets back to its original state when an external clock pulse is given to
a monostable oscillator. Similarly, when 555 timer generates an oscillating
wave at output pin 3 it enters a stable state, in order to get back to its normal
an external trigger is applied.
5). Is the Clapper a fire hazard?
No, the Clapper is not a fire hazard